United States men’s national team (USMNT) winger Timothy Weah has found himself at the center of a debate over the 2026 FIFA World Cup of late. His decision to label the tournament’s ticket prices ‘too expensive’ has prompted comments from a host of pundits.
Now, USMNT great Eric Wynalda has hit out at Weah while praising Mauricio Pochettino.
USMNT Star Slammed for 2026 FIFA World Cup Opinion
Last month, Weah shared the frustration of many soccer fans about the high price of World Cup tickets. He said on Le Dauphine, “They are too expensive. Soccer should still be enjoyed by everyone. It is the most popular sport. The World Cup will be good, but it will be more of a show. I am just a bit disappointed by the ticket prices.”
However, USMNT head coach Pochettino declined to engage in a debate about the 25-year-old player’s remarks during a press conference in late January. The Argentine asserted, “I think players need to talk on the pitch, playing soccer, not outside of. It is not (his) duty to evaluate the price of the tickets. We are not politicians.”
And Wynalda has seemingly sided with the ex-Tottenham Hotspur boss in the debate over the 2026 FIFA World Cup, boasting tickets priced as high as $8,680.
“Pochettino, he doesn’t give a sh*t. I loved what he did with Timothy Weah. Again, Timothy Weah, dude, shut up! Nobody’s evil, and it’s not your place to talk about tickets for a World Cup. It’s not. This isn’t the Grammys. You don’t get to go up there and lecture the public on some political bullsh*t,” the former forward said on ‘Unleashed with Eric Wynalda’.
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Wynalda, who played in leagues like the Bundesliga and Major League Soccer (MLS) during his career, urged Weah to focus on participating in the upcoming tournament.
“Nobody cares! Nobody cares. You put the jersey on, put your hand on your heart, and play the damn soccer game. That’s what we care about. And that’s what Mauricio Pochettino has locked in on. He is actually in a very similar way to 1994 with what Bora (Milutinovic) did,” the former FC Saarbrucken and VfL Bochum player concluded.
At the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the USMNT will face Australia, Paraguay, and the UEFA Playoff C winner in Group D. Pochettino’s side, ranked 15th, will open its campaign against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, on Jun. 12.
